LTC 520-2019 PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT EARNS APWA REACCREDITATION WITH MODEL POLICIES MIAMI BEACH
City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive,Miami Beach, Florida 33139,www.miamibeachfl.gov
Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager
Tel: 305-673-7010, Fax: 305-673-7782
NO. LTC# 520-2019 LETTER TO COMMISSION
TO: Mayor Dan Gelber and Members o the City Iommission
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FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager
DATE: September 26, 2019
SUBJECT: PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT EARNS APWA REACCREDITATION WITH MODEL
POLICIES
The purpose of this Letter to Commission is to share the exciting news that the Public Works Department
has earned reaccreditation by the American Public Works Association (APWA), with three of our policies
recognized as models and recommended for implementation in Public Works Departments across North
America. The three celebrated policies were the department's new Internal and External
Communications Procedures, Customer Service Program, and Project Workflow Process—all of which
were initiated this year as part of the department's unwavering pledge to provide the highest level of
service to all stakeholders across the City of Miami Beach.
This achievement reiterates the Public Works Department's commitments to best practices in its field
and places it among an elite roster of agencies that boast this distinction. On August 27-28, the
department underwent a thorough on-site audit of its management practices by APWA impartial industry
experts, where its operations, policies and preemptive measures were deemed in-compliance with nearly
500 best practice guidelines by APWA.
In preparation of the reaccreditation, the department invested a great deal of effort into reevaluating
existing methodologies and streamlining operations in the essential areas of stormwater and flood
management, risk and emergency protocols, right-of-way practices, street cleaning and recycling
methods, greenspace operations, planning and development, communications disciplines, customer
service policies, and wastewater conveyance among others. More than 20 Public Works team members
presented the intricate inter-workings of the various divisions, offering extensive supportive
documentation to highlight how the department collectively works toward shared efficiencies.
Achieving this reaccreditation denotes that the City's Public Works Department:
• Is a premier, well-managed professional agency, with practices and policies that are recognized
to meet the highest professional standards across the United States and Canada;
• Provides efficient services to stakeholders, in keeping with the City's ethics and fiduciary duties
for all employees;
• Seeks to foster a relationship of trust with residents, businesses, City leadership and elected
officials by actively promoting transparency, exceptional communications and respect;
• Commits to continue evaluating and optimizing its processes in order to remain at the forefront of
industry standards.
For over 80 years, APWA has promoted professional excellence and public works awareness through
education, advocacy and the exchange of knowledge. International membership currently exceeds
30,000 Public Works departments, private sector companies and individuals. Reaccreditations are
required every four years. The City of Miami Beach's Public Works Department is the 42nd agency
accredited in North America and the third agency accredited in Florida.
JM/ T�/ `U/LBM